How will Saim Ayub's absence impact Pakistan's chances to win the upcoming Tri-Series and ICC Champions Trophy 2025?

[mominsaigol]

Although it's a bit early with six days to go, I thought I'd start this thread since it’s definitely a hot topic.

Despite being under criticism all year for his T20 and Test performances, Saim Ayub quickly became a fan favorite by silencing his critics—even me. It takes real talent to dismantle Cummins, Hazlewood, and Starc in their own backyard, and as an Aussie fan, watching that innings left me both in pain and in awe of his skill. This was followed by a brutal bashing of Zimbabwe (100 off 53) and another solid, match-winning performance against a full-strength South African side on their own turf.

However, now that he's injured, how will this affect Pakistan in the long run? Can Fakhar, at 35, keep up, or is he simply too old to replicate the match-winning performances of the past? And will Saud/Babar—whichever pair opens—be good enough to fill Saim's shoes at the other end?

 

[The Bald Eagle]

No need to wait till CT 2025, the tri-series would be a great judge of it

 

[Rajdeep]

OP seems to be using his exclusion as an excuse. Saim Ayub has not faced any strong opposition yet in pressure cooker matches. This Champions trophy could have been his first taste of real deal but looks like injury will keep him out. We need to wait for next ICC/ACC tournament to find out this Ayub hype.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

OP seems to be using his exclusion as an excuse. Saim Ayub has not faced any strong opposition yet in pressure cooker matches. This Champions trophy could have been his first taste of real deal but looks like injury will keep him out. We need to wait for next ICC/ACC tournament to find out this Ayub hype.

Your team is really lucky that at first PCT has a pathetic squad and secondly their Jaiswal is out of the squad. Prepare your crackers for 23...

 

[Rajdeep]

Your team is really lucky that at first PCT has a pathetic squad and secondly their Jaiswal is out of the squad. Prepare your crackers for 23...

How is my team lucky when we hardly play against your team? If anything, it is your team is lucky as that head 2 head record would have been long gone had there been regular cricket. So thank your stars.

BTW, your Jaiswal is out and that is derailing your entire CT campaign where as our (real) Jaiswal is yet to make his debut in ODIs

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Your team is really lucky that at first PCT has a pathetic squad and secondly their Jaiswal is out of the squad. Prepare your crackers for 23...

Only bad luck has ever cost Pakistan against India. Talent and charisma wise, they are always ahead of the Indian team.

 

[mominsaigol]

OP seems to be using his exclusion as an excuse. Saim Ayub has not faced any strong opposition yet in pressure cooker matches. This Champions trophy could have been his first taste of real deal but looks like injury will keep him out. We need to wait for next ICC/ACC tournament to find out this Ayub hype.

Arei bahi, I asked a question, their is no hidden agenda nor is their any Indian bashing. Chill karo.

I was planning to make a mitch Marsh exclusion thread as well but stopped cause it's not relevant. Only make one when it's Travis head who's injured.

Their 6 Indian trolls on this forumn that I have a problem with but you're not one of them.

The problem with them and a bit with you is that you guys make futuristic assumptions and defensive for no reason. For example

A) I make a thread asking if India will struggle like Australia after their legends retire, i even made one for Australia

^^ Indian posters rather then discussing yes and no or ipl talent will say

And now here you are making assumptions that saim ayub op thread is somehow related to India.

India is one team, and frankly I don't care about them unless you shove them in my face.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

Fakhar and Saim as an opening combo would have been entertaining.

Saim’s absence will be a factor, but it depends on how the substitute opener fares, if Saud does well then all will be forgotten, if he fails people will think a lot about Ayub.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Saim's exclusion is a big drawback for Pakistan for sure. Saim was looking in great touch especially in white ball cricket so his absence will be felt.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Pakistan isn't like other teams where all batters are aggressive. Being an aggressive batsman in Pakistan is a specialist slot in the team.

With Saims injury we have lost an opener, a hitter and spin bowler all rolled into one. It looks difficult to balance the squad without him. Compared to our recent squads it looks like we have needed 2 players ( Fakhar and Khushdil) just to replace Saim. That shows his impact and importance.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

2007 World Cup: Asif and Akhtar ruled out
2011 World Cup: Amir and Asif banned
2015: World Cup: Ajmal action deemed to be illegal
2023 World Cup: Naseem injured and ruled out
2025 Champions Trophy: Saim ruled out due to injury

Are you really going to tell me that we are not cursed and its out of sheer happenstance that our most in-form player gets ruled out months before the start of a major ODI tournament?

 

[Mesozoic]

2007 World Cup: Asif and Akhtar ruled out
2011 World Cup: Amir and Asif banned
2015: World Cup: Ajmal action deemed to be illegal
2023 World Cup: Naseem injured and ruled out
2025 Champions Trophy: Saim ruled out due to injury

Are you really going to tell me that we are not cursed and its out of sheer happenstance that our most in-form player gets ruled out months before the start of a major ODI tournament?

Lol those first three instances are all self inflicted. Nothing to do with any curse.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Lol those first three instances are all self inflicted. Nothing to do with any curse.

Everyone knows its a dark curse. Why is it that all of these instances happened right before an ICC tournament? Why couldn't they have happened after??

 

[Mesozoic]

Everyone knows its a dark curse. Why is it that all of these instances happened right before an ICC tournament? Why couldn't they have happened after??

Yeah that's because there's an ICC tournament every year. Duh!

For example, had Ajmal got banned sometime after the 2015 world cup , you would have said "Oh no why did he get banned before the 2016 WT20 in India?" Each and every happening in the cricketing word is on average 5-6 months away from an ICC tournament.

Even during the Asif amir Akhtar 's period (2007-11), there were 6 ICC Tournaments played in 4 years lol.

 

[shaz619]

OP seems to be using his exclusion as an excuse. Saim Ayub has not faced any strong opposition yet in pressure cooker matches. This Champions trophy could have been his first taste of real deal but looks like injury will keep him out. We need to wait for next ICC/ACC tournament to find out this Ayub hype.

the OP is among a few who will objectively critique the team. It’s rational to question how Pakistan will cope without one of their most reliable top order batsman.

 

[Devadwal]

the OP is among a few who will objectively critique the team. It’s rational to question how Pakistan will cope without one of their most reliable top order batsman.

Your first part is ture because he is a Tullebaaz .

 

[BouncerGuy]

Stay on topic instead of trolling others

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Yeah that's because there's an ICC tournament every year. Duh!

For example, had Ajmal got banned sometime after the 2015 world cup , you would have said "Oh no why did he get banned before the 2016 WT20 in India?" Each and every happening in the cricketing word is on average 5-6 months away from an ICC tournament.

Even during the Asif amir Akhtar 's period (2007-11), there were 6 ICC Tournaments played in 4 years lol.

Well no, I specifically said ODI tournaments. I am quite certain that there are dark arts at play here. It has nothing to do with bad luck or these players being their own worst enemy. That much seems absolutely certain. Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action.

 

[mominsaigol]

Well no, I specifically said ODI tournaments. I am quite certain that there are dark arts at play here. It has nothing to do with bad luck or these players being their own worst enemy. That much seems absolutely certain. Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action.

It is kinda weird how this has happened 3x in a row now.

Otherworldly factors at play lol

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Well no, I specifically said ODI tournaments. I am quite certain that there are dark arts at play here. It has nothing to do with bad luck or these players being their own worst enemy. That much seems absolutely certain. Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action.

Shikhar Dhawan injured in 2019, Pandya injured in 2023.

Happens to all teams, we just notice it when it happens to the teams we support

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Shikhar Dhawan injured in 2019, Pandya injured in 2023.

Happens to all teams, we just notice it when it happens to the teams we support

Haha I was being sarcastic. I don't believe in superstitions. We are very unlucky though.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

How badly would he be missed?

 

[mominsaigol]

How badly would he be missed?
View attachment 150513

Given the form he was in, Pakistan's chances have depleted by 50%.

What i like about saim is class. Pakistan has always produced classy left handed batters (excluding fakhar) but besides saeed Anwar they have botched all of them.

Hopefully saim becomes the 2nd success story.

Otherwise the likes of haris sohail have been getting botched. Hopefully said shakeel turns it around in odi.

 

[Rana]

Poori team toot gayi hai

 

[Hyder]

Team balance is so off with just one man going

He used to bowl bat and field at point

I think aqib doesnt trust saud as much else he wouldn't shuffle everything so much

Saud is superior to kamran and should come in and play as opener or if u dont trust him then bring imam back to open with fakhar and dont play with batting positions much

Also khushdil doesnt seem to clear boundary in intl cricket idky but he just never clears it..had high hopes from him but he didnt look great today

Shaheen although did get spanked in the end but he was better bowler in first 7 overs than everyone else so i wont worry much about him he just had an off day

Saim
Fakhar
Babar
Rizwan
Kamran/Tayyab
Agha
Irfan/Tayyab

This would ve been much better lineup albeit a great one